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Bloons® TD4 Blasts Past One Million Downloads on iPhone and iPad
12 November 2011
Hit Tower Defense Game Credits Innovative Design and Frequent Updates for Its Eight-Months-and-Counting Position on the iPhone Top 100 US Apps Chart
Ninja Kiwi, a leading developer and publisher of web and smart phone games, and Digital Goldfish, a leading developer of smart phone and handheld games, today announced that Bloons TD4 has surpassed one-million downloads across Apple’s iPhone and iPad platforms.
Originally developed by Ninja Kiwi as a flash game for ninjakiwi.com, Bloons Tower Defense 4 has the huge variety of towers, tracks, and play modes necessary to satisfy gamers, but it also blends that strategic play with the family-friendly antics of a legion of monkeys doing their best to pop near-endless waves of invading Bloons. “We love strategy games, and BTD4 was built to be one of the best strategy games possible,” says Chris Harris, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Ninja Kiwi. “But we also wanted to make a game that our kids and families would enjoy, and that blend of humor and fun has helped the flash franchise see over 500 million plays on the web.”
The iOS version, developed by Digital Goldfish and co-designed by Ninja Kiwi, offers the same mix of characters, fun, and strategy, but it also offers exclusive tracks, challenge modes, high resolution graphics, and the immersion of touch control. Bloons TD4 iOS also boasts more than 10 major updates since its launch in December 2010. A brand new tower, power upgrades, multiple new maps, and several new game modes, including the recent Challenge Mode with iOS-exclusive challenge tracks and badges, have all been added since the game launched, and the vast majority of the updates are completely free. “The exclusive iOS features are a big reason to love Bloons TD4 on your iPhone or iPad,” says David Hamilton, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Digital Goldfish. “The updates are the big reason to keep loving it. We aim for an update every 2 to 3 weeks, and we have tons more planned. Player reviews consistently call out the hours and hours of gameplay available and the great value for money.”
Bloons TD4 iPhone launched in the US at #1 in strategy games, #6 in all games, and #7 in all apps, and the iPhone game has remained in the top 100 all apps US and top 50 games US ever since its launch. Breaking down the one-million downloads, Hamilton and Harris indicated that iPhone/iPod Touch accounts for over 90% of the volume, and that the game has had well over 4 million updates downloaded. “With many more updates planned,” said Harris, “we hope players keep enjoying all the new gameplay and even better value in Bloons TD4 for a long time to come.”
Bloons TD4 is available from the App Store for US$2.99 on the iPhone or at:
Bloons TD4 HD is available from the App Store for US$4.99 on the iPad.
Ninja Kiwi® is a leading developer and publisher of games for web, Facebook, and smart devices. By focusing on quality, original games for its website, ninjakiwi.com has become a destination for gamers looking for the highest quality games on the web, Facebook, and smart phones – games such as Bloons® 2, Bloons® TD4, and SAS3: Zombie Assault™. Founded in 2006, Ninja Kiwi is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand and does business as Kaiparasoft Limited. Game players eager to find the best original digital games can follow the Ninja Kiwi name and logo, or stay in touch at http://ninjakiwi.com/Forum/forum.php or at the Ninja Kiwi Games group on Facebook


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The supply chain issues that have been plaguing consumers for the past few years did not seem to drastically affect the stock of baby formula until the beginning of this year. According to a report by Datasembly, baby formula stocks for the first seven months of 2021 were relatively stable with out-of-stock rates (OOS) being around two to eight percent. However, by January of this year OOS levels had reached 23 percent, and continued to worsen with levels at 43 percent by the beginning of May. Inflation, along with the ongoing global supply chain shortages, have made it increasingly difficult for Wisconsin families to provide formula for their babies. Then, Abbott Nutrition, the largest infant formula manufacturer in the country, voluntarily recalledseveral lines of powdered formula including Similac®, Alimentum ® and EleCare® on February 17th – contributing further to the shortage.
This recall was due to concerns about bacterial contamination at their Sturgis, Michigan, facility after four infants fell ill and two died. Now it is increasingly difficult for parents to find specific formulas needed for babies and children who are most at risk to this shortage due to their special dietary needs. As a response, the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) created a list of substitutes for the recalled products in order to help parents who are looking for alternative infant formulas. NASPGHAN emphasizes that these substitutions should still be done under the recommendation and supervision of a healthcare professional. Since the Abbott recall, the Biden-Harris Administration along with the USDA and FDA have taken steps to ensure infant formula is safe and available for families across the country.
On May 18th, the House of Representatives passed bill H.R. 7790, the Infant Formula Supplemental Appropriations Act, a supplemental appropriations bill to provide $28 million in emergency funding to the FDA in order to address the shortage. The Biden Administration used the Defense Production Act to boost production of infant formula by prioritizing key ingredients for formula production and compel suppliers to provide the needed resources to formula manufacturers ahead of other consumer goods that may utilize the same ingredients. Along with this, President Biden has approved Operation Fly Formula, a mission in utilizing aircrafts to speed up the import of infant formulas abroad that meet U.S. health and safety standards and in so doing getting more of these formulas to stores as soon as possible.
But what can families in Wisconsin do right now? There is the state’s Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). This program provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, as well as to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk. Local WIC offices are a great resource for women in Wisconsin who need support while waiting for more infant formulas to become available. Children’s Wisconsin has also made suggestions like utilizing WIC, contacting your pediatrician, dialing 2-1-1 for local resources for assistance, and reaching out to as well as supporting local food banks like Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin to help ensure families in need can get formulas. But what they and many other child health experts advise parents not to do is create their own formulas as they can miss the correct balance of key nutrients their baby needs, or add extra water to any formulas they currently have as it can harm the brain and organs of the baby. American Academy of Pediatrics also has a Q&A resource webpage for any questions or concerns parents may have in regards to this shortage crisis.

domain: news


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Toyota Motor Corp stated on Friday that 296,000 pieces of customer information might have been leaked from its T-Connect service. It means that the email addresses and customer numbers of those who use T-Connect are potentially leaked. It is a telematics service that connects vehicles through a network. These customers include those who signed up to the service’s website using their email addresses since July 2017.
According to the statement, third-party access could not be confirmed from the access history of the data server where the information was stored based on security experts’ investigation, Toyota said in a statement. At the same time, it added that third-party access “could not be completely ruled out.”
There was no possibility, though, that users’ sensitive personal information, such as names, phone numbers, or credit card information, were leaked, Toyota said. The Japanese automaker did not confirm cases of the information being misused but cautioned that there is a possibility of spamming, phishing scams, and unsolicited email messages being sent to the users’ email addresses. The automaker said a contractor that developed the T-Connect website accidentally uploaded parts of the source code with public settings from December 2017 until Sept. 15 this year.
Toyota apologized, “We sincerely apologize for causing great inconvenience and concern to our customers.”The incident occurred after the T-Connect website’s development subcontractor who Toyota did not name “mistakenly” uploaded part of the source code to its account on GitHub, an internet hosting service owned by Microsoft.
The subcontractor’s account was set to public, “in violation of the handling rules”, Toyota said. “From December 2017 to September 15, 2022, a third party was able to access part of the source code on GitHub,” Toyota said. “It was discovered that the published source code contained an access key to the data server and by using it, it was possible to access the email address and customer management numbers stored in the data server.”
The average cost of a data breach hit a record high of $4.35 million in 2022, which is 2.6 percent higher than last year, US technology company IBM said in an August report. This is also up by about 13 percent from 2020. Toyota joins a string of high-profile companies that have had their data and customer information compromised, including Samsung Electronics, LinkedIn, Cisco, Twitter, and Facebook. The carmaker said it would begin to send individual notifications and apologies to affected users, and that it had set up a dedicated call center to answer questions and concerns. “In addition, we have prepared a special form on our website that allows you to check whether your email address is subject to this campaign,” it said.


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Gekido, a fighting game that originates on the PlayStation (PS1) with Gekido: Urban Fighters, is making a return to mobile platforms. This new game will feature hand-drawn 2D graphics, unlike in polygonal predecessor.
Day: 21 October 2014
Flyhunter Origins is a game we reported on not too long ago back in July of this year. Developed by Steel Wool Games, in partnership with Riptide Publishing, Flyhunter Origins is Steel Wool’s first game release and if you happen to be living in Canada, you now have the ability to download the game before anyone else in what is basically a soft release.
Crescent Moon Games has published their newest title onto Android called Epic Dragons. Instead of being the enemy, like in a lot of games, the dragons are the victims in this title, being under attack from enemies who want to steal from these poor defenseless creatures.
EA has brought a new Sim City to Android in a title called Sim City BuildIt, currently now in a soft location-specific release. While this isn’t a full Sim City title in that it has every option and feature of its PC and console bethren, it does have a lot of gameplay available still including the actually city building elements, which is good since this is Sim City after all.
While I normally write much longer format reviews Wave Wave is a game that you’ll either throw aside in frustration within the first few minutes (perhaps seconds for some) or you’ll be hopelessly hooked on it with a fierce passion. Much like Super Hexagon, Super Meat Boy, or other titles designed for the masochistic perfectionist gamers (like me) out there, Wave Wave is simple as can be to control and understand.
Team2Bit have announced their newest title that will be heading to Ouya soon called Reagan Gorbachev. This development studio has already released one game that did quite well called Fist Puncher and now this new game will be heading exclusively to Ouya this month.
A rather popular game on iOS is a game called Pixel People, published by Chillingo. It was released over a year ago for iOS and has been planned for an Android release since then. Now that is finally going to happen this month.


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A new logo and brand promise have been unveiled by technology firm Amadeus as it commits to working with customers and partners to “shape the future of travel”.
Both the new visual identity and the tagline are part of a plan to clearly communicate its “purpose and promise” to its customers and partners.
“We know that we are unique and what we offer makes us stand out from the crowd so now more than ever is important that we clearly express who we are, what we stand for and our aspirations for the future, both for us and for the industry, with an individual look and voice that is ours and ours alone,” Amadeus said.
“We want to ensure that how we look and what we say clearly reflect and communicate what we stand for and we fell the new visual identity shows a modern company, with strong historical roots and values, and a purpose to shape the future of travel. Not alone, but together with our customers and partners.”
In addition to the new logo, Amadeus has added shapes and more colour to its look and feel. The “adaptable, fluid” nature of the new graphical style aims to reflect the “dynamic” nature of the firm’s relationships with its customers and partners.
With travellers increasingly expecting more personalised, connected, and sustainable travel, it invited the industry to dicuss ways that connecting industry players and leveraging “big data” can benefit the future of travel.
Check out the below infographic to see how the Amadeus logo has changed over the last 27 years:


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Mars hopes to banish the winter blues with a Galaxy Win a Million Moments promotion. On-pack codes give consumers the chance to win prizes such as lunch in Paris. Some £15m will be spent on Galaxy in 2012, including a TV ad which airs next month. Also new is a limited edition 31g variant of Galaxy Bubbles orange.
tel: 01844 262517


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Cab aggregators such as Uber and Ola that have about 30,000 leased cars also face this threat. Lease rentals could rise by 25-30% in the GST regime due to the rise in tax incidence.
The Centre is likely to raise the issue at the GST Council, the apex decision-making body, on June 30, when it meets before the midnight launch of the new tax, but no one is willing to take a chance. "We are looking at the issue and will take it to the GST Council," a senior government official said.
The transition rules provide relief to goods but leases seem to have fallen through the cracks.
An industry grouping that includes ALD, LeasePlan, Arval, TranzLease, Orix, Magma, AVIS, Clix Capital, Tata Capital, Ola, Uber, Sundaram Finance as well as the Tractor Manufacturers Association have petitioned the government seeking exemption from central goods and services tax on existing leases to prevent double taxation as central excise duty has already been paid on the vehicles.
"We are flooded with requests to foreclose," said Hari Kaushik, president of TranzLease. "Our teams are working overtime to address this issue."
Business dynamics for the industry are set to change completely with lease owners' monthly payments rising.
The peculiar situation has arisen because such leases are treated as goods and not services and were accordingly being levied value added tax (VAT).
The central excise tax had already been collected when these cars were purchased. Under GST, which subsumes central excise and many state taxes, the levy will mean a kind of double taxation as excise has already been paid.
For example, if the basic monthly lease rent of a midsize car is Rs 25,000 under the current regime, it would face 12.5% VAT of Rs 3,125, taking the total to 28,125.
Under GST, however, the total will be Rs 35,750. That's based on GST of 28% plus a 15% cess, making for an increase of 30%.
"At Ola Fleet Technologies, we run a leasing programme for tens of thousands of driver-partners who may not be able to afford buying a car of their own," said Shalabh Seth, CEO of Ola Fleet Technologies Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ola.
These driver-partners currently pay 14.5% VAT. In the proposed GST regime, they will have to bear GST rates of 29% to 43% on cars already leased, as an outcome of double taxation on existing leases.
"This will have an adverse impact on their livelihoods, setting them back by over Rs 1 lakh for the remaining period of the lease, making it unviable to sustain their business," he said.
It's not just cars that could be hit. More than 150,000 tractors are also impacted on account of incremental tax burden besides trucks, according to industry experts.
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January 15, 2014
Silicon Power Received Four Awards from the China Red Star Design Award 2013
SP/ Silicon Power, the world’s leading provider of memory storage solutions, today proudly announces that SP has once again received global recognition at the China Red Star Design Award 2013, which just released its winning list last month. Featuring innovative product designs and superior qualities, SP cut a conspicuous figure at the China Red Star Design Award and won four awards for its outstanding products: Touch T825 USB flash drive, Jewel J10 USB flash drive, Jewel J05 USB flash drive and Stream S03 portable hard drive. Recently rewarded with seven awards at Taiwan Excellence 2014, SP once more gained incredible success at the China Red Star Design Award, by which SP not only shows its remarkable achievement but also further strengthens its leading status in the memory storage solutions industry.


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More about minecraft, minecraft coins, inapp purchases, microtransactions, Mobile minecraft minecraft coins inapp purchases microtransactions Mobile Gaming Smartphones
Designs made by other Minecraft players can be purchased using a new virtual currency that can be bought through in-app purchases.
The new Minecraft Coins currency will be tied to your account using Microsoft’s Xbox Live service.
Minecraft Marketplace Mojang That’s not to say there won’t be issues with its implementation.
By adding micro-transactions and a virtual currency, Minecraft on mobile devices will join the thousands of other games facing the problems with in-app purchases.
Microsoft is set to add Minecraft Coins to the platform that will live in a user’s Microsoft Xbox Live virtual wallet and is accessible for marketplace purchases on any platform.
The new currency will live in a user’s Microsoft Xbox Live virtual wallet and is accessible for marketplace purchases on any platform.
‘But, by using the Minecraft brand for the currency, Microsoft appears to see this as a self-contained move, rather than the start of something larger.’
Minecraft is set to launch a marketplace that showcases curated content for Pocket and Windows 10 players.
Scroll down for videoMinecraft is set to launch a marketplace (pictured) that showcases curated content for Pocket and Windows 10 players.
Minecraft gets own currency
Minecraft gets own currencyMinecraft, the hugely popular sandbox video game owned by Microsoft, is introducing its own currency for a new marketplace of add-ons built by third-party developers.
The Minecraft Marketplace will sell things such as maps and skin and texture packs that have be developed by approved, professional “content creators”.
The coins will be stored in players’ Microsoft Xbox Live virtual wallets, from where they will be accessible for marketplace purchases on different platforms.
To pay for the new goods, players will need to convert real world money for Minecraft Coins through appstores on supported devices, such as iOS, Android and Windows.
At launch, nine developers are onboard, with more to follow.


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One Software presents...
Airliners - The Super 80
and Coolsky are excited to release some photographs of the new MD-80
based product that will be released shortly. Stay tuned to www.flight1.com
for the official announcement with further details.
on any image for a large size picture


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TGS 2017: Sony Sets Date for PlayStation Press Conference
Watch live online September 19.
Prior to the start of Tokyo Game Show 2017, Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan Asia will hold a PlayStation press conference in Japan on Tuesday, September 19.
According to Sony's announcement on the Japanese PlayStation Blog (translation via Gematsu), the briefing will begin on September 19 at 4pm JST (12:30pm IST). For those unable to attend the conference, Sony will also stream the event live right here.
Tokyo Game Show 2017 kicks off with two business days from September 22-23, which will be followed by two days for the general public from September 23-24.
Sony's pre-TGS press conference last year featured several surprises, including the announcement of a special edition FFXV PS4, as well as a release date for Nioh, new details about Danganronpa 3, and more.
What do you hope to see from Sony at this year's Tokyo Game Show? Let us know in the comments.
Alex Osborn is a freelance writer for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @alexcosborn.


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The cashier decided to settle the matter by having the restaurant pay half of the bill.
DINING at seafood restaurants can be a dangerous game (wallet-wise) as most seafood restaurants in Malaysia calculate the cost of the seafood by weight in grams.
A seafood restaurant in Sabah shared on its Facebook page on Sept 1 of three customers who allegedly “refused” to pay the full bill after ordering RM1,102.20 worth of food.
According to the receipt provided in the post, the customers ordered on Aug 27, two crab dishes (RM230), a lobster dish (RM480), fried squid (RM28), steamed fish (RM224), rice (RM9 – RM3/portion) and four drinks (RM31) with an added service charge of RM100.20.
The restaurant management claimed in their now-removed post that the customers refused to pay the full amount because it was “too expensive” for them, and only paid less than half of the bill.
“They refused to pay (the bill) in full, saying it was too expensive, and only paid RM400. We ask this family to pay back the balance of RM702.20 immediately.
“There is no excuse for them not being able to pay as we already know what was ordered on the menu. Whatever the reason, hopefully, they will pay us back quickly,“ the management said in their post.
However, things took an interesting turn after the accused patron shared their version of the story on Facebook, claiming that the restaurant’s post was false and painted them in a bad light.
He alleged that since it was only three of them dining, they chose to order the lobster dish at the price tag of RM48 per 100 grams as it was within the trio’s budget.
“It turned out that the waitress, who assured us that we would get a lighter weight of lobster, had placed an order for one kilogramme of the lobster without informing us.
“We initially discussed the issue of the pricey lobster with the waitress. The cashier then intervened and decided to settle the matter by having the restaurant pay half of the bill and the customer bore the other half,“ the customer said in his post.
In a brief video clip of the incident uploaded in the same post by the customer, the cashier can be heard saying: “To resolve the issue, you can just pay in half. Settle.”
In another Facebook entry posted on Sept 2, also removed at the time of writing, several officials from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living (KPDN) visited the restaurant, but the management assured that matters had been resolved and “nothing suspicious was going on”.
The restaurant management also stated that they had filed a complaint with the police after the incident.
In addition, the management also alleged that the customer’s video was taken before both parties fully agreed to split the bill and urged the family to come forward and resolve the matter as soon as possible.


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Oct. 8, 2013 — -- Details about Apple's next iPad have been adding up over the last few weeks, and now it looks like we can add a launch date to the pile.
Apple is set to hold an event on Oct. 22 to announce the next versions of the iPad, according to technology website All Things D. The website has a long track record of accurately reporting Apple event dates. It correctly reported the iPhone 5s' September launch event before Apple officially sent out invitations to the media.
When reached by ABC News, Apple declined to comment on the report. However, it was close to a year ago, on Oct. 23, 2012, that Apple held an event in San Jose to announce its fourth-generation iPad and the iPad Mini.
The next generation of the iPad is expected to have a similar design to the iPad Mini's, with a thinner shell and screen frame, according to various leaks. Additionally, Apple is expected to release a new version of the iPad Mini with a high-resolution Retina display. Some have also reported that both of the next iPads will have the Apple's newest fingerprint sensor technology, called Touch ID, which is currently found only on the iPhone 5s.
The iPads will run the newest version of Apple's iOS 7, which was released last month.
Apple will also talk about its future Mac products, according to AllThingsD, including the all new Mac Pro, and the next version of the Mac operating system called OS X Mavericks. Apple first showed off the new Mac Pro at its Worldwide Developer's Conference event in June. The desktop PC has been shrunken down and will be manufactured in the U.S.
Apple has been facing mounting pressure from investors and consumers to release products at a faster rate. During Apple's third-quarter earnings call, company CEO Tim Cook said that the company was working on many new "amazing products" that would be introduced "in the fall and across 2014."


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Stung by criticism that too many fraudsters are putting in bids for goods on its site, eBay has teamed up with Wells Fargo Bank to offer an “electronic check” payment option.
Now a seller can get confirmation that the buyer has enough money in the bank to cover the cost of the item within minutes, eBay officials said.
“Electronic check means faster transactions with no bounced checks, no paperwork and no chargebacks,” said Janet Crane, CEO of Billpoint, eBay’s payment company.
The new service also helps buyers, who will get their goods more quickly than they did when a check had to be mailed, received and cleared before a seller would ship the item.
“One of our greatest complaints from users is the time delay,” admitted eBay spokesman Kevin Pursglove. “Sellers have complained about bounced checks, which is frustrating. This gives both the buyer and the seller the extra security of knowing that the payment is good and the goods will be promptly shipped.”
While electronic check can be used for big- and small-ticket items, eBay is taking extra steps to ensure that no fake bids are entered in its auction for a legendary 1910 T206 Honus Wagner baseball trading card which could sell for a whopping $750,000 – or even more.
“On this listing alone, any person who wants to bid will wire a deposit of $100,000 to an escrow account,” said Pursglove, adding that eBay has counseled sellers of other high-ticket items on ways to verify the authenticity of the bidders and ensure that the bids are not fraudulent.
But for most sellers, especially those who are not set up to accept credit card payments, electronic check is the safest way to guarantee that the bid is good.
Through July 31, eBay will charge any seller who wants to accept an electronic check payment 35 cents to process the transaction. Buyers will not have to pay a fee, but they will provide eBay with their checking account numbers. The seller will never see the buyer’s bank account information, eBay promised.
Analysts said the new service was a necessary improvement but not groundbreaking.
“It’s just an enhanced service for customers and a higher margin product for eBay,” said Holly Becker, the Internet analyst for Lehman Brothers.
eBay’s shares fell $3.63 to $71.81.


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Quality-of-life fixes and a new map inbound as well
It’s been a big month for Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation 2, as the game saw an international release and passed the two-million-download mark. Not looking to be left out of the Halloween festivities, the game will be holding a Halloween event starting on the day of fright itself. In addition, a new map and multiple quality-of-life fixes and balancing changes will arrive that same day.
Unfortunately, the event is getting off to a disappointing start.
In a move I heavily disagree with, the 10 free mobile suits distribution will be ending on October 31 at 12:59 am ET. Not only do these 10 offer a variety of mechanics and play styles, several of them are valued at 400 points are higher, which is a must for high-cost rooms. If this offer ends, it severely restricts what cost rules new players can actually join and have a hope of doing well in, as they do not start with anything above 250 cost in their roster. Needless to say, this a bad move on Bandai Namco’s part and they should be made a permanent part of the starting roster.
As for the Halloween celebration itself, it’s a fairly standard holiday event. The base camp will have decorations, NPCs will dress up, and your pilot will have cosmetic items to wear. There will also be limited missions to complete which will reward you with the Gogg, arriving that same day. Finally, there’s an adorable little Gogg accessory to obtain, which you can see below. I love it.
As for the new additions launching that day, there’s quite a few of them. The most notable ones are:
- A new ground map is being added. This map was in the first Battle Operation, so expect veterans to have an advantage initially while you learn the ins and outs.
- Spawning at points is being changed so you spawn closer and facing the point in order to reduce disorientation and downtime.
- Speaking of points, the score for capturing them is being changed. Causing an enemy controlled one to become neutral will now increase your team’s score in addition to the point going from neutral to your team’s.
- Several mechanics such as bomb planting and calling support fire are being moved from the circle button to the square button, helping reduce incorrect actions.
Additionally, while no date was given, the team confirmed that they are working on mobile suits with flight mechanics. Showing a brief clip, the developers made it clear they are still balancing the mechanic, so take everything you see with a grain of salt. No hints were given as to what mobile suits – either already in the game or yet to come – could potentially utilize this mechanic, although it’s safe to assume Atlas Gundam will likely use it when it finally arrives.
Overall it’s a decent quality-of-life update. While not major, it does help reduce mistakes and emphasize to players that they should be taking and defending points. New mechanics are always something cool to look forward to as well. However, I was really hoping to see something from the developers on improving the game’s netcode or how it handles the stun mechanic. Those are arguably the biggest issues in Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation 2 currently.
Lag and bad connections impact the hit detection which causes the stun mechanic to be a nightmare, and as long as they go unaddressed, it will hurt the game and drive folks away.
October 21, 2019 [GBO2]
October 29, 2019 [GBO2]


text: Ronnie Fieg is defiantly one of the go-to names when it comes to Asics collaborations, having captivated consumers with a string of different styles over the years. He’s surely though not the only one who knows how to put together a well colored Gel Lyte III. Giving Ronnie a breather for a moment, Sneaker Freaker stepped up to take the lead, teaming up with Asics to put together what’s known as the “Alvin Purple” Gel Lyte III, a name which comes from a 1973 Australian comedy film. The multi-textured, Black, Grey, Purple, and White infused Gel Lyte III first appeared in 3D form on the cover of Sneaker Freaker’s 18th issue back in April and are known shown here in clearer detail. We’re still being kept at bay on an exact date for the release, but it’s been reported that the Sneaker Freaker x Asics Gel Lyte III “Alvin Purple” will become available this month in a limited run of 276 pairs.


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The wild wild West of PPE production
Posted March 26, 2020
If you’ve been paying any attention while self-isolating, you know it has become something of a wild wild West out there, at least in the world of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Every day (hourly, it seems) another company has jumped into the production or supply of materials to this space at a critical, unprecedented time for all.
While many of us have gotten out of Dodge and retreated to our home offices and Zoom Rooms during the COVID-19 crisis, a whole segment of our amazing industry has dropped everything at the spur of the moment to respond to the need for protective supplies for healthcare professionals, first responders and others.
Which makes me about as proud as I’ve ever been of you textile and apparel angels. As far as the eye can see, I’m witnessing good news of your good deeds and goodwill.
I’ve spent much of my time over the last week or so trying to lasso in all of these inspiring stories and connect people throughout the supply chain who want to get involved. I’ve had fiber producers, fabric makers, equipment dealers, chemical providers, media, a New York podcast producer organizing a webinar and even a doctor from the Cleveland Clinic contact me with questions related to this supply-and-demand conundrum. And I’m sure this has consumed many of you, as well.
Hardworking healthcare professionals around the country and the world have vociferated from behind their weariness their need for goods and equipment to keep them safe and healthy. And many of you stepped up in response, the Defense Production Act be damned. Hence, it’s become something of a benevolent free-for-all in this new frontier, leading to more questions than answers, especially around face masks.
And I’ve heard many of those questions: Where do they fall on the ASTM protection scale? Do they need FDA-approval? Are there harmonized standards? What are they made of? What are the specs? How do you make them? Where do you ship them? Who makes the elastic bands? Any antimicrobial or anti-viral ingredients? What is the quality? And on and on.
Fortunately, several companies and groups in our industry have come forth to help answer these questions and solve a number of issues. The Americas Apparel Producers Network (AAPN) on Sunday set up a Sourcing Center on its website that has attracted thousands of users connecting on the PPE issue. The AAPN also reached out to other associations, including the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA), SEAMS and others, to ask if they would invite their members to participate. All graciously obliged, according to AAPN leaders Sue Strickland and Mike Todaro.
And the IFAI, in conjunction with the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO) and INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, conducted a member survey to develop a list of suppliers of medical PPE for the government in light of the crisis. Response was overwhelming – from members and nonmembers. As a result, those groups are in the process of identifying specific government recipients such as officials at the Department of Health and Human Services, FEMA, the Department of Commerce, the Defense Logistics Agency and the White House itself to garner the greatest impact and benefit of the survey as possible. The goal is to ask the federal government to use the survey results to help inform sourcing decisions related to the emergency medical textile materials they are seeking to procure, according to Steve Schiffman, IFAI’s president & CEO.
And working with IFAI, NCTO, INDA and the Manufacturing Solutions Center in Conover, N.C., SEAMS developed a program to provide open capacity to help manufacturers in need where their own factories were closed or could not meet production requirements. Response to that program also has been overwhelming, according to SEAMS Executive Director Will Duncan.
Yarn spinner Parkdale, at the behest of the NCTO after the council was contacted by Peter Navarro, director of U.S. Trade and Manufacturing Policy, led a collaborative effort with eight other textile companies and apparel brands to build a supply chain “virtually overnight” and fast-track the manufacturing of medical face masks to help hospitals, healthcare workers and citizens battling the spread of the COVID-19 disease. Other companies have since joined the partnership.
That alliance appears to be the largest and most organized – it has certainly received the most national press in the U.S. – but numerous other production endeavors have popped up around the country. I’ve even seen several reports of others on an individual basis (seamstresses, for instance) volunteering to help produce PPE.
Another group of manufacturers and nonprofits, led by the Carolina Textile District (CTD), is transitioning its production to prototype and produce medical PPE supplies in response to a request from healthcare providers. On Monday, CTD launched a link on its website to handle intake of demand from healthcare providers and response from manufacturers that are willing to assist in the production process and provide supplies. In one day, more than 60 manufacturers signed on to help. In total, more than 600 sewers are available and ready to produce.
Equipment makers and suppliers such as Shima Seiki, Henderson Sewing Machine Co. and Belgium-based Reifenhäuser Reicofil also have adjusted their focus to healthcare PPE in the last week or so.
‘Never underestimate the power of the U.S. textile industry’
I contacted a few of those individuals whose companies are participating in these purpose-driven efforts to see how they’re doing. And several were gracious enough to come up for air, despite working virtually around the clock these days.
Among them was Jordan Schindler, CEO of Textile-Based Delivery, Inc. (Texdel), Inc./Nufabrx, who last week turned his Conover, N.C.-based company’s focus from medicated fabric for socks, compression sleeves, gloves and workout clothing to antibacterial face masks.
“We’re all just trying to do our part, but it’s been amazing to see how the whole industry has chipped in and banded together,” said Schindler, whose company is infusing fiber from Fiber & Yarn Products in Hickory, N.C., for production at partner Bossong Medical in Asheboro, N.C. “The offers for support have been amazing. It feels like everyone is banding together and going to war together.”
Already, the partners have begun shipping masks to hospitals while antimicrobial and air permeability testing continues at the Manufacturing Solutions Center, where Texdel/Nufabrx is housed.
“We are prioritizing delivery to hospitals and first responders, but doing what we can to help our local community as well,” Schindler said. “Masks will be going out to Catawba County first responders starting on Friday.”
Contempora Fabrics, a Lumberton, N.C.-based knitter, is part of the Parkdale coalition. Last Friday, the company’s finished quality manager created a few samples and, already, the manufacturer is producing 8,000 to 10,000 masks a day utilizing a medical customer that was already making them, as well as local plants.
“Next week we expect that capacity to double and continue to grow,” said Ron Roach, Contempora president. “It has been amazing to watch our industry come together to provide needed supplies quicker than anyone in the world could do. The entire industry in the U.S. and Western hemisphere is working on this as one big team. Never underestimate the power of the U.S. textile industry when it is called into action.”
LACorp of Lebanon, Va., was asked to join the Parkdale-led collaboration to provide cut-and-sew services. After spending the week on education and setting up supply chains, the company was running a small line producing a few thousand masks by today. Next week, it will add capacity, according to Jeoff Bodenhorst Jr., company president.
“We have committed to allocating labor for 25,000 or more of these antimicrobial-treated masks per week,” he said. “We are also assisting with approximately 50,000 gowns over the next few weeks.”
And because of the sudden shift, demand has quickly outpaced the supply of labor at LACorp, he added.
“We went from a period not two weeks ago where I was losing customer orders and extremely worried about my business to now maybe needing to hire staff to keep up with demand and ongoing opportunities,” Bodenhorst said. “Through networking with SEAMS, AAPN, the CTD (Carolina Textile District) and many other associations, my email box has blown up and I cannot get back to everyone quick enough. All the while we are educating employees, enhancing our cleaning protocol and getting everyone to practice social distancing.”
The silver lining to this whole health crisis? “The domestic sewn product supply chain pulling together to share resources and get something done in such a short period of time,” he said. “I hope this continues to draw attention to the importance of a domestic supply chain for many industries.”
Indeed, Bodenhorst brings up a bigger issue – but I’ll save that for another blog, once we all emerge from this cloud.
In the meantime, thank you for stepping up and proving our industry’s resilience, resolve and relevance. Your goodwill has not gone unnoticed.
Yippee ky-yay, y’all.


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ICBC Berlin: Europe's Premier Cannabis Trade Show Attracts Global Industry Leaders
Berlin, Germany - ICBC Berlin, Europe's longest-running and largest B2B trade show and conference in the cannabis industry, proved once again to be the continent's premiere business networking event. With over 350 sponsors and exhibitors and more than 5,000 attendees from over 80 countries, the conference served as a powerful platform for cannabis businesses to connect, collaborate, and shape the future of the industry.
Over the course of two action-packed days, ICBC Berlin facilitated an environment where significant milestones that would typically take years to accomplish in a traditional working environment could be achieved. The event provided a unique opportunity for industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and visionaries to exchange ideas, forge partnerships, and explore the latest trends and innovations in the cannabis sector.
One World Legends, a prominent player in the cannabis industry, made a notable presence at ICBC Berlin. Led by its President, Rocky Perullo, the company's esteemed partners, including EU Sales & Marketing Director Marius Koller and EU Director of Operations Claudia Trimde, showcased their expertise and engaged in meaningful discussions with fellow industry professionals.
The bustling exhibition hall was a hub of activity, featuring cutting-edge products, services, and technologies from a diverse range of sectors within the cannabis industry. Attendees had the opportunity to explore the latest cultivation techniques, extraction methods, innovative product offerings, and ancillary services. From seed to sale, ICBC Berlin covered every aspect of the cannabis value chain.
However, ICBC Berlin was more than just an exhibition. The conference portion of the event brought together industry experts, thought leaders, and policymakers to address key issues, share insights, and discuss the future of cannabis regulation and legalization. Panel discussions, keynote speeches, and interactive sessions covered a wide range of topics, including market trends, investment opportunities, regulatory challenges, and the potential for international collaboration.
The presence of global attendees from various countries enriched the networking experience, allowing participants to gain a truly international perspective on the cannabis industry. It provided a fertile ground for fostering new business relationships, expanding market reach, and exploring potential partnerships across borders.
ICBC Berlin has solidified its position as the go-to event for cannabis businesses in Europe and beyond. Its success lies in the ability to unite industry stakeholders, facilitate meaningful connections, and drive the advancement of the cannabis sector. As the industry continues to evolve, ICBC Berlin remains a catalyst for growth, innovation, and collaboration.
With another successful edition in the books, the cannabis community eagerly anticipates the next installment of ICBC Berlin. As the industry landscape continues to transform, this premier event will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the global cannabis industry.
#ICBCBerlin #CannabisConference #CannabisTradeShow #GlobalNetworking #IndustryLeaders


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A writer at The Federalist says 2020, bad a year as it was due to the damage wrought by coronavirus, did teach an important lesson regarding what it means to “get woke, go broke”, and telling what could be learned from Japanese manga and even the Star Wars spinoff, The Mandalorian. Many of the problems seen in entertainment may have begun with comicdom, and it surely had its roots in the 90s, if we take how, by 1995, most publishers all but abandoned sales through mainstream bookstores:
As noted in the Post Millennial, at the start of lockdown, the American comics industry was already dying. Sales have been down for quite some time and continue to decline. Worse, as comics shops perish, fans watch in horror has the industry turns each popular character into woke caricatures.
To name only a few, in 2020 we added “Superman Smashes the Klan,” black Batman, bisexual polyamorous Wolverine, Safe Space and Snowflake, and a non-binary black Flash. And who could have predicted sunsetting, so strange an enterprise that I would call it a conspiracy theory if I hadn’t seen the evidence?
Even cartoon shows fell victim to this ideological flood:
Many friends with bored children were surprised to find Cartoon Network evangelizing for the radical left in 2020. At the start of the George Floyd riots, Toonami came out supporting Black Lives Matter. In December, the network featured an insidious PSA about race and embarked on a campaign to encourage young kids to embrace their inner “zhe/zher” alternative gender pronouns.
Hmm, if young adults, as they’re described, aren’t interested in cartoon matinees laced with political pandering, chances are they’re not very interested in the comics DC’s been making for the same category (I think Marvel is too), let alone the text novels marketed to the same crowd. By contrast, most manga/anime creations are doing considerably better:
In Japan, on Amazon, and across the globe, Japanese comics are selling gangbusters. This year, the fantastic manga “Kimetsu no Yaiba (Demon Slayer)” broke the record for the best-selling comic in Japan, with more than 100 million comics sold. […]
Culturally and fiscally, we are comparing Japanese whales against American minnows here. For the comics industry, 100 million comics would be an absolute dream. Indeed, in 2019, the entirety of the western comics industry sold a combined 15.5 million units, and most of that is scholastic books and manga anyway. To view it another way, the total sales of the western comics industry amounts to just 10 percent of the sales for one trendy Japanese comic book.
What gives? Well, first and foremost, the Japanese comic book creators look at their supporters with adoration. In Japan, a culture with a much more conscious sense of respect and hierarchy, if a creator insults anyone or an actor breaks the law, they’re given the boot. Here in America, Amber Heard can be a known serial abuser failing upwards.
Yes, that is a serious problem with how US businesses conduct their operations as opposed to Japan’s. Some could argue that a similar problem with comic writers existed at least 3 decades ago, enabled primarily by nepotism. Gerard Jones was an early example, a writer whose stories by and large were tedious and laced with heavy-handed politics, a precursor to modern problems with wokeness, and Dan Slott, who began his career in the early 90s, is another example. Despite all the dreadful elements in various stories they wrote, they continued to get jobs. In fact, while Rob Liefeld may not speak abusively of the audience, he too was an early example of an awful artist continuously safeguarded by pretentious editors and publishers, many who were surely the same ones who thought it a great idea to remove over 90 percent of their output from commercial bookstore chains and rely almost entirely on specialty stores, complete with a policy for non-returnable items that made it difficult for stores to get rid of excess junk.
And, lest we forget, they repeatedly continued to stick rock solid with the monthly pamphlet format, despite the rising costs which made it less appealing to anybody on a tight budget. Indeed, one could say the comic industry’s “going insular” was but one way the worst contributors felt emboldened to belittle their audiences. It’s good most mangakas and anime producers recognize why it’s ill-advised to speak negatively of your audience, and hugely regrettable US industrialists won’t draw inspiration from the land of the rising sun for how to lead public relations. Also brought up here is how the Mandalorian’s marketed and made, in contrast to what Kathleen Kennedy oversaw with the Star Wars sequels:
All is not seemingly lost, however. One major American company is returning to properly respect Nerdom.
Everyone and his mother appears to be caught up and blissfully swept away watching the second season finale of the adventures of Baby Yoda and friends. Yet it’s important to look back at the depths from which “The Mandalorian” has managed to ascend.
When Disney bought the intellectual property rights to “Star Wars” in 2012, Bob Iger ousted George Lucas not only physically but spiritually. New el Presidente of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy, stacked the story group with a group of almost entirely white female sycophants and woke bullies with little knowledge of the franchise, mocking fans while they purposely defenestrated Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. […]
Unlike Kennedy, however, Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni understand “Star Wars” is best when it is being “Star Wars,” and just one year after creating “The Mandalorian,” Disney Plus ballooned to 86 million subscribers. In short, economics is forcing Disney to acknowledge that which by politics they refused to acknowledge.
Certainly the 2 aforementioned producers on TV seem to recognize the importance of putting entertainment value first. But if recent news that Patty Jenkins, who recently indicated she’s unrepentant for the troubling way Wonder Woman 1984 is written, will be getting a job directing another SW entry, Rogue Squadron, Disney haven’t learned their lesson at all, and there’s no need to continue patronizing movie theaters next time to see what else is in store.
And let’s remember Disney’s owned Marvel for over a decade or so, and allowed them to get away with only so much awfulness, not the least being the time when Steve Rogers was turned into a Nazi-Hydra worshiper, among other embarrassments. Now, much like DC, they too could be heading for closure of their comic publications, and with the continued use of company wide crossovers nobody cares about anymore, that’ll only precipitate their collapse. I suppose it’s a question of whether, if Disney and AT&T continue ownership of the properties as comics, they’ll license them out to other sources who understand the importance of entertainment merit, along with continuity and even creative freedom without being held hostage to PC mandates? Either that’s what’ll take place, or, the Big Two will become defunct as publishing outfits altogether. All because they wouldn’t let go of their oh-so precious politics.
Originally published here.


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reported net income for the first quarter of almost $17 million, or 24 cents a share, and the apparel retailer said it expects to meet analysts' profit estimates for the full fiscal year.
In the year-ago first quarter, the company earned $31.7 million, or 43 cents a share. Results for the first quarter of fiscal 2004 have been restated in connection with the company's review of lease accounting transactions. The company's earnings for the latest first quarter met expectations.
Net sales for the quarter totaled $476.4 million, up 10% from $433.2 million for the same period last year.
AnnTaylor said it expects to meet Wall Street's consensus earnings estimate of $1.17 a share for the fiscal year.


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The Jonas Brothers have a new documentary coming to Amazon Prime called “Chasing Happiness.”
The documentary will include never-before-seen footage of Nick, Joe and Kevin Jonas starting with their early days growing up in New Jersey and culminating in them getting back together for their current album and tour.It will show them rebuilding their relationship as brothers and band mates. It will debut on June 4th on Amazon Prime video worldwide. Amazon released a video clip of the Jonas Brothers asking Alexa who her favorite member of the group is. Check it out below!


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News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services.
All the latest pictures, news and video from the social media favourite
The lowdown on how to get your Instagram Best Nine collage...
Instagram update sparks outrage after it accidentally launches new sideways feed
Instagram U-TURN as app brings back feed scroll after ditching it
Khloe Kardashian accused of photo editing 'so skinny' picture
Instagram chat UPGRADE adds voice messaging like WhatsApp – how to do it now
Germany's hottest cop ordered to stop posting bikini snaps or face sack
Instagram now lets you pick 'Close Friends' – and it could cause HUGE rows
Instagram show-off posts pic of 'homemade' curry - but leaves packet in the shot
Shoppers slam Home Bargains for selling 'vile' chip shop curry CHEESE
Stacey Solomon writing self-help book giving 'imperfect' life advice
Your Instagram app is about to look VERY different – see the new design here
Will the app kill off fake likes and follows and how does it affect me?
Facebook and Instagram down - social networks crash sparking panic
Instagram privacy FAIL exposed your password – how to make sure you're safe
Nicole Scherzinger shows off her incredible body in workout gear on Instagram
Find out if you're an Instagram ADDICT with this simple tool


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Bonterra Organic Vineyards aims to appeal to consumers who are looking to change the world with their purchase power, while gently poking fun at clichés associated with wine tasting.
The “Tastes Like Saving the Planet” campaign from Humanaut highlights the environmental credentials of the winery.
Consumers are invited to “experience the delicious, totally tasteful taste of saving the planet.” Bonterra’s tongue-in-cheek 90-second video will also air in 30-second,15-second and 6-second cutdowns on Hulu and YouTube, as well as on social and programmatic video including a targeted mix of culinary-, entertainment- and wellness-tailored digital media networks.
The brand’s sales were up 18% this year even before the ad campaign. More people have been drinking wine during the pandemic, according to the Wine Intelligence’s U.S. COVID-19 Impact Report which polled a nationally representative sample of 2,000 monthly wine drinkers.
Selected as the 2020 California Green Medal winner in the Environment category, Bonterra has farmed exclusively organically since 1987. In developing the campaign, Humanaut tapped into Bonterra’s goal to grow awareness among wine drinkers who are regular buyers of natural and organic food but don’t necessarily apply that same logic to their wine purchases.
This meant satirizing the absurdity of modern wine tasting notes -- like “pencil shavings” or “fresh tennis balls” -- as a vehicle for calling out the deeper benefits of Bonterra’s winemaking practices.
One spot opens with a stereotypically pompous wine drinker likening his wine’s bouquet to raked leaves and shuttlecock, then cuts to people tasting Bonterra wines and remarking that “the nose on this is biodiversity” and “it’s got a big ethically farmed finish.”
Research indicates that consumers are more receptive when communications about sustainability- and climate-focused topics incorporate humor, says Rodrigo Maturana, vice president of marketing for Bonterra.
“The new campaign allows us to make meaningful connections with the many wine fans who care about the environment and also appreciate a lighthearted approach,” Maturana says in a release.


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BlackBerry 10 update contains major bug that randomly deletes text messages
Aug 01, 2013 04:34 AM EDT
BlackBerry's latest OTA update apparently contains a major bug that has affected SMS functionality, randomly deleting text messages.
HP returning to smartphones: Will devices run Android, Windows Phone, or BlackBerry?
Jul 02, 2013 12:23 PM EDT
After a long hiatus, HP is ready for another shot at the smartphone market.
BB10 fails to turn a profit as BlackBerry subscriber base falls
Jun 28, 2013 05:23 PM EDT
BlackBerry is not looking too good right now as subscribers jumped ship and the company incurred loss in the latest quarter.
BlackBerry Live: 120,000 Apps in BlackBerry World, Gaining on Windows Phone
May 16, 2013 11:05 AM EDT
The numbers are in, and it appears BlackBerry World might walk over Windows Phone sooner or later.
BBM Coming To Android And iOS: Could This Move Increase BlackBerry's Prospect?
May 16, 2013 10:32 AM EDT
Android and iOS users, prepare to ping your friends on BBM this summer.
BlackBerry 10.1 OS Upgrade Starts Rolling Out Globally
May 08, 2013 10:46 AM EDT
The BlackBerry 10.1 OS update brings various improvements and changes for the BlackBerry Z10 and BlackBerry Q10 smartphones to rock the new operating system.
BlackBerry Q10 Review Round Up: Good Phone, Small Display, Weak Camera
May 06, 2013 03:04 PM EDT
Wish you could get your hands on a BlackBerry 10 smartphone with physical keyboard keys? Wish no longer.
RIM Weakens As Consumers Return BlackBerry Z10 Devices In Droves
Apr 12, 2013 09:45 AM EDT
BlackBerry is in big trouble, as early adopters of the BlackBerry Z10 begin returning their handsets to retailers.
BlackBerry 10 OS Gets First Major Upgrade To 10.1 Ahead Of Z10 Smartphone Launch
Apr 09, 2013 09:37 AM EDT
BlackBerry 10.1 upgrade details emerge, and the first major update to the BB10 OS will reportedly arrive by the end of the month.
Nokia Boss Believes Windows Phone Can Take 10 Percent Marketshare
Apr 03, 2013 10:26 AM EDT
Stephen Elop, CEO of Nokia, is very confident in the Windows Phone platform gaining 10 percent market share at BlackBerry's expense.
BlackBerry 10 Must Be Famous, But BB7 Will Still Do A Lot For Company
Apr 02, 2013 07:28 AM EDT
BlackBerry has no plans to abandon BlackBerry 7 OS as it plans to launch devices on BB7 in emerging markets.
BlackBerry 10 Roadmap For 2013 Includes BB10 Phablet
Mar 30, 2013 02:18 PM EDT
A new leaked image allegedly shows the BlackBerry 10 roadmap for 2013, with various products including what appears to be a 'phablet.'
BlackBerry 10 App Store Blazes Past 100,000 Apps Milestone
Mar 25, 2013 10:22 AM EDT
Developers show plenty of love for BlackBerry 10 as the app store surpasses 100,000 apps.
BlackBerry CEO: Apple No Longer Innovating, BlackBerry 10 Better Than iPhone
Mar 18, 2013 02:17 PM EDT
RIM CEO Thorsten Heins thinks the iPhone is old news because Apple lacks innovation
BlackBerry Z10 From Verizon Will Be Up For Sale Starting March 28
Mar 14, 2013 08:10 AM EDT
BlackBerry Z10 from Verizon now has full launch details.
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Licensing Program for ODD SQUAD Grows With New Products
Canada’s Sinking Ship Entertainment (SSE) announced today the exciting new ODD SQUAD products hitting the market in 2024: a kids’ meal toy program, French-language books and two new colouring books. Big moves for the beloved Emmy® Award-winning franchise this year, including the previously announced ODD SQUAD UK series format slated to launch later this Fall.
France TV Distribution has brokered a deal with French publishing arm Larousse to create and distribute new ODD SQUAD books across that territory. The first two books are already available, and another three books will be slated for release this fall. The television series is popular on France TV, frequently landing in the top 10 kids’ programs. In the U.S., SSE has partnered with BRAUM’s, the ice cream and restaurant chain with over 300 locations, to launch a kids’ meal toy program in Q2 of 2024. Additionally, Really Big Coloring Books®, Inc. has released two new books in the U.S. for the retail, promotional and wholesale markets, including PBS Affiliates, Walmart.com, Amazon.com, ColoringBook.com and more. The company will have an additional 8-12 ODD SQUAD items by mid-summer 2024, all set for distribution throughout the US.
“ODD SQUAD’s enduring messages of teamwork and collaboration are evergreen” says Tanya Mason, Manager of Consumer and Ancillary Products. “These new partnerships and products aim to meet kids where they are and complement the brand’s multiplatform and licensing approach to connecting with global audiences.”
ODD SQUAD features kid agents who use math to investigate strange occurrences, with episodes infused with comedy and fun. The original hit multi-Emmy® Award-winning series, produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment and Fred Rogers Productions for PBS KIDS and TVOKids, launched in 2014. ODD SQUAD UK, co-produced by BBC Studios Kids & Family and Sinking Ship Entertainment, features a brand-new world of oddness and group of agents with a predominantly British cast filmed exclusively in the UK, and is set to launch in 2024.


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Halloween is kind of a big deal around the Tampa Bay Business and Wealth offices. We take it very seriously, in a fun, light-hearted way. I mean, we’re not competitive or anything, right?
Last year, many of our readers were still working from home, and some of you all still are, but that is no reason to skip out on the Halloween fun – it may be even more reason to partake!
With that in mind, we are encouraging you to send us your team, and individual, photos this year. We plan to post them throughout the day Friday and will keep updating as we get more submitted throughout Halloween, Sunday evening. The cutoff to send photos to be considered for the contest will be 9 a.m. Monday morning, Nov. 1. Please email photos to Jo-Lynn Brown at email@example.com.
Thanks to a new partnership with Brad Hall, at Hot Lava Studios, we are offering a grand prize for the company that sends us the best team/individual photos.
That company will receive a free video session for their business to create a marketing reel to be shared on their website and social media channels (Worth $3,500 in value, restrictions and rules apply. Don’t get extra, people).
Voting will take place internally, and the winner will be announced the week of Nov. 1.
Now go have fun! And stay tuned for TBBW’s big reveal of our 2021 Halloween costume. We’re going to knock it out of the park!


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The big boys now playing with start ups like Hadapt, and Cloudera. Amazing developments.
Maybe this is just news to me, but IBM has a SQL-on-Hadoop product in the works called Big SQL. The company announced the technology preview version in March (well under my radar and, from what I’ve seen, nearly everyone else’s radar), and is offering up a cloud-based demo environment for a select group of early users.
As a refresher, the big difference between SQL on Hadoop and the Hadoop connectors that were popular a couple years ago is that SQL-on-Hadoop products query the data where it resides — in HDFS or HBase — rather than pulling it into a relational database environment to analyze it. We have been talking for months about the emergence of a large SQL-on-Hadoop market, but IBM’s name was conspicuously absent from that discussion. The company has Hadoop software called BigInsights and lots of SQL expertise, so it only made sense that IBM would get into…
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THE return of Buick's Riviera two-door could signal the revival of General Motors' moribund design department.
The original 1963 Buick Riviera was one of the most trend-setting cars on the road. Although never a contender for a spot on the Top 10 charts, sales ran as high as 54,000 units a year.
But Riviera's fortunes faded in the 1980s. Like so many other GM specialty vehicles, it became a victim of look-alike styling and an undefined mission. The coupe virtually vanished from the sales charts: In 1992, volume plunged to 11,478 and the car was dropped from production.
But Riviera won a reprieve, and the new 1995 model will play an important role in reviving not just a nameplate, but the image of an entire corporation. ``This car is very, very important for us,'' says Mike O'Mally, marketing manager at Buick. ``It opens a new era of engineering and design.''
The new model is being favorably compared with the original 1963 version. In an era of aerodynamics, when far too many cars look alike, it proves a design can be windswept but still unique. The theme is ``elegant ellipses.'' The sculpture is three-dimensional, with compound curves and rear fenders that hint - dare one say it -
``It's the most difficult car I've ever photographed,'' a photographer commented on a recent media preview in Phoenix.
``The Riviera is Buick's `vision car,' '' adds Bill Porter, Buick's chief designer.
But that vision is more restricted than in the past. General Motors President and Chief Executive Officer Jack Smith has promised that the automaker will turn a profit on its North American Automotive Operations this year, after running up more than $17 billion in losses since the late 1980s.
That has placed some serious constraints on low-volume vehicles like the Riviera. The coupe is built around a new chassis that will eventually be used for almost every other GM luxury product. One of those cars - the four-door Oldsmobile Aurora - will also make its debut this spring. Making sure the two vehicles do not look alike has been a formidable task.
``It's been a challenge,'' says Tony Derhake, Buick's engineering director. But also one that is critical, he and other GM executives acknowledge.
Too many of the products the automaker has introduced over the past decade have come in over budget and have been unable to return a profit - even when they did hit sales projections, he says.
With the Riviera, the emphasis was placed on what consumers want, rather than what GM says they should settle for, Mr. Derhake says. In the past, even when GM listened to its customers, the corporate structure made it difficult to implement what they said.
Take the Chevrolet Caprice. Long before it went on sale, focus groups indicated that it would bomb. Because the GM system had grown so cumbersome, there was no time to react. The car went into production four years ago to universally poor reviews.
Riviera has extensively used focus groups and other customer research from the moment the program was conceived. That has led to a variety of changes, some small, some as big as adding a dual exhaust.
``Five years ago, I was afraid of customer research,'' Derhake says. ``Now, as we're getting into it, I've gotten more confident.''
Buick officials admit that it will take a strong marketing effort to revive interest in a nameplate that many had written off. The division is looking at a variety of target marketing strategies.
It may take a cue from BMW and advertise on the Prodigy electronic data network. And potential customers in Detroit and Philadelphia recently received invitations to special presentations at their local auto shows.
``A lot of people showed up,'' Mr. O'Malley says. ``It was one of the best responses we ever had to a direct marketing campaign.''
Buick's goals are actually fairly modest: ``Our main purpose is to go after domestic buyers,'' says Buick General Manager Ed Mertz, adding that as Japanese prices continue to rise, more import owners will likely drop into a Buick dealership for a look.
The Buick's base price of $27,632 will prove particularly attractive. That is anywhere from $5,000 to $15,000 less than comparable Japanese and German models.


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tech2 News StaffDec 20, 2018 12:41:05 IST
On 17 December, the Xiaomi Redmi 7 series was spotted on China's Compulsory Certificate or the 3C certification website. It was said that the Redmi 7 series, just like the Redmi 6 series will include three models — Redmi 7A, Redmi 7 and Redmi 7 Pro. Later, we saw one of the devices listed on TENAA with full specs — it was rumoured to be the Redmi 7.
Now, a new image has surfaced online which appears to be the Redmi 7 Pro placed its retail box. If at all this is true, then the new device will be one of the first devices by Xiaomi to have a waterdrop notch.
The device listed on TENAA comes with a 5.84-inch LCD multi-touch display with 2280 x 1080 pixels resolution and 19:9 aspect ratio.
It is powered by a 2.3 GHz octa-core processor sporting SoC and is expected to pack in 3 GB RAM with 32 GB storage, 4 GB RAM with 64 GB storage and 6 GB RAM with 128 GB storage. A microSD card can add up to 256 GB on the device.
Coming to the camera, the listing reveals that the device will feature a dual camera set up at the back with a 12 MP primary rear camera along with a secondary rear lens, the details of which are not known yet. There is an LED Flash. On the front, we have an 8 MP sensor.
The device will run on Android 8.1 Oreo OS with MIUI on top and is expected to be powered by a 2,900 mAh battery.
It should support 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Hotspot, Bluetooth and GPS. The listing also says that the device weighs 150 grams and there is a rear-facing fingerprint sensor.
Xiaomi announced three smartphones in its Redmi 6 series, this year in September — the Xiaomi Redmi 6A, Redmi 6 and Redmi 6 Pro.
Find latest and upcoming tech gadgets online on Tech2 Gadgets. Get technology news, gadgets reviews & ratings. Popular gadgets including laptop, tablet and mobile specifications, features, prices, comparison.


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(JTA) — Demand for a new edition of Adolf Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” has far exceeded supply on its first day of release.
Publishers of the 2,000-page annotated edition of the Nazi leader’s book said at a news conference Friday, the day of the book’s release, that they have received orders for four times as many books as they had printed, Reuters reported.
The 70-year copyright in Germany of the anti-Semitic tract, whose title means “My Struggle,” expired on Jan. 1, allowing it to be published in the country for the first time since World War II. The publication has been controversial; while some Jewish groups have endorsed the annotated edition, others have opposed it.
The Munich Institute for Contemporary History has said it published the new edition to preempt uncritical and unannotated versions, and that it hopes the new edition will help destroy the book’s cult status. “Mein Kampf” can also be easily found on the Internet.
At the news conference, the institute’s director, Andreas Wirschig, said the institute already has received orders for some 15,000 copies but had an initial print run of only 4,000.
The institute also has already received requests for translation into Italian, French and English.
“Mein Kampf” sold 12 million copies in Germany before the end of World War II, according to Reuters.


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Holiday Shopping: Dollars & SenseNovember 15, 20181 min read
The holiday shopping season kicked off with Black Friday and Cyber Monday, and retailers have been hard at work trying to attract customers with deep discounts and great deals on everything from televisions and clothes to appliances and gaming systems. Consumers are expected to spend an average of $1,007 this year on holiday gifts and decorations, according to National Retail Foundation.
What are the hottest gift trends this year? Where can you get the best deals? And what’s Christmas creep? Marketing professors Anne Hamby, Barry Berman, and Anil Mathur from the Zarb School of Business can provide expert commentary on these questions and more -- from explaining how retailers attach emotion to products to increase value to how brick and mortar stores are faring against fierce online competition. They’ll share how consumers can enjoy the holidays without breaking the bank.


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Surrey team wins £20.7k grant from Connected Everything Prize Fund
A cross-faculty team at the University of Surrey, led by Dr Regina Frei from the Department of Digital Economy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, was awarded a £20.7k grant from the Connected Everything Prize Fund to develop a Network+ proposal on the digital circular economy.
The proposed Network+ will aim to facilitate a collaborative research and innovation network bringing together digital technology, materials, circular economy and broader research and stakeholder communities to drive greater digital sustainability and a circular economy, accelerate impact, build skills and undertake horizon-scanning activities.
Besides members of the Centre of Digital Economy (CoDE), the team includes academics from the Institute for Sustainability, the Centre for Environment and Sustainability, the Institute for People-Centred AI, the School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, the School of Mechanical Engineering Sciences, the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Digital Economy, Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Computer Science Research Centre.
Frei says: "There is no Planet B. We urgently need to develop more circular, more sustainable, and more responsible ways to design products, use resources and do business. To achieve this, it is essential to bring together the experts from various fields, including product design, material science, resource extraction and sourcing, manufacturing, operations and supply chain management, digital transformation, artificial intelligence and machine learning, circular economy, business models, retail and marketing, (consumer) behaviour science. We need to explore how to more effectively leverage digital technologies to enable sustainable and circular approaches to manufacturing and business. I'm excited to address this, with a team including the whole range from early career researchers to high-profile professors."


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BlackBerry maker Research In Motion has doubled its profits in the last quarter following strong demand for its smartphones from consumers and businesses alike.
Revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2008 was $1.67 billion, up 22% from $1.37 billion in the previous quarter and up 100% from $835.1 million in the same quarter of last year.
The revenue breakdown for the quarter was approximately 80% for devices, 14% for service, 4% for software and 2% for other revenue.
Approximately 1.65 million BlackBerry subscriber accounts were added in the quarter and over 3.9 million devices were shipped according to the manufacturer.
The results mean that there are now 12m BlackBerry subscribers around the world.
RIM has said that it expects revenue for its fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 ending March 1, 2008 is expected to be in the range of $1.80-$1.87 billion.
RIMM shares were up 10% on the news.


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This post was written by Greg Malen, who is VP Solutions at Similarweb.
The Coronavirus outbreak has led brands to reevaluate their media strategy, with many deciding to cut ad spend across digital and traditional channels. Similarweb has covered extensively how retailers, most notably Amazon, have reduced their paid search investment to near zero and recently decided to reduce the commission rates for their associates program.
As AdAge writes, “one area that appears to be immune, and perhaps even booming, is esports.” With consumers stuck inside, streaming services Twitch and Mixer have thrived, both experiencing a 20% traffic increase in March. Advertisers have taken notice, with automotive, food service, and technology brands pushing for consumer attention; however, is this having direct attribution for the brand?
Similarweb evaluated the outgoing traffic (i.e., clicks that bring a consumer off the site) from twitch.tv during Q1 2020. Outgoing traffic in the United States was up 17% from the start of the quarter. Referring links drove a significant share to sub-domains on Twitch, PayPal (a frequently-used payment platform to make donations to streams), Facebook, and Amazon.
The fastest-growing brands on Twitch in Q1 were a combination of food, gaming, and media streaming. Wendy’s, Quibi, and Call of Duty all experienced a >5,000% increase in outgoing traffic. Overall, when you evaluate the categories, social networks and consumer electronics collectively represent 57%, followed by retailers selling consoles and accessories. Surprisingly, food brands only represent 3% of Q1 outgoing traffic in Q1 2020.
When taking a closer look at online food companies, we see that outgoing traffic to their sites doesn’t take off until March, when the pandemic started spreading around the US, and quick-service restaurants’ (QSRs) began promoting “contactless” pickup and home delivery services.
Carlsjr.com receives the most traffic in March, increasing Month-over-Month by 67%. Chipotle.com, who – instead of canceling their Challenger Series – decided to host the event exclusively on Twitch and YouTube on April 25th, experienced a 687% increase in traffic from Twitch in March. We should expect this trend to continue as food delivery continues to be the new norm, both in the US and worldwide. Similarly, traffic to wingstop.com grew by 253%, MoM.
Similarweb continues to focus on keeping markets informed about consumer behavior during the pandemic. We’ve created a minisite that features daily updates on changes in consumer behavior and shopping patterns, and we are hosting weekly webinars to cover industry trends across the globe. Make sure to watch our recent webinar on COVID-19’s impact on the retail, consumer, financial services, and travel industries in the Asia Pacific region.
Wondering what Similarweb can do for you?
Here are two ways you can get started with SimilarWeb today!


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As more consumers turn to the Internet to research vehicles, financing and other dealership-related services, many dealers are scrambling to find their place in the uncharted waters of online marketing.
There is much to gain for those dealers who take chances with this burgeoning marketing channel. Dealers can achieve brand recognition, generate leads and drive customers into their dealerships. The online marketing revolution — a shift toward using Web-based communication and marketing tools, such as online video and social-networking sites — is driven by two catalysts: the recession and consumer media consumption habits.
“Necessity is driving a lot of energy around these requests for changes,” said Justin Oesterle, a sales and marketing executive for RouteOne. “When there’s lots of revenue flowing around, you can hide some inefficiency problems. When revenue goes down, you need to figure out pretty quickly where to make the right kind of investments.”
And with the economic downturn forcing many dealers to search for ways to reduce costs and streamline processes, investing in new tools may seem counterintuitive in an economy like today’s. The truth is, putting in a little time and money now may prepare dealers for future success. In addition, many of these newer forms of technology cost little or nothing to implement.
“We know that there are a lot of different mediums out there and people prefer different things,” said George Grubbs, a third-generation dealer and executive manager of Grubbs Infiniti in Dallas. “We want to try to reach everybody at their preferred method of communication. That’s why we’re not afraid to try all of these different things.”
To promote his dealership, Grubbs uses YouTube videos, a Twitter feed, microsites and a mobile marketing tool to advertise his inventory. Grubbs and his staff create YouTube videos entirely on their own — from creating the concept and storyboarding to filming and editing. “We’ve done it in-house,” he said. “After the first video, the second and third didn’t take nearly as long because, by then, we knew what we were doing.”
Using these various forms of electronic media is akin to taking multiple shots in the dark, but Grubbs embraces Web-based technology and believes it helps him capture his customers’ attention. “If someone is hesitant to invest in something like this, they’re going to get left behind, because this is obviously the next direction for finding information and communication,” he said.
Tracking Media Consumption Habits
Grubbs’ observation is backed by research showing that consumers are moving beyond television, newspapers and radio, as many are turning to Web-based technology, such as smart phones, video platforms and social media, for information and entertainment.
According to comScore Inc., a digital marketing research firm, there were more than 20 million smart phone subscribers as of November 2008, and they contributed to a 34-percent increase in Web browsing last year.
ComScore also found that online video viewing accounted for 12.5 percent of Americans’ total time spent on the Internet in 2008, up from 8.5 percent in 2007. YouTube, which held 40-percent market share in November 2008, generated 5.1 billion video views that month, a 74-percent increase compared to the year-ago period.
Social media, such as social-networking sites and blogs, also continued to gain importance, according to comScore. The research firm found that Facebook’s visitor base grew 57 percent to 54.6 million visitors in 2008, while Wordpress, the largest blog publishing platform, jumped 64 percent to 24.2 million visitors. And based on the Experian Simmons Fall 2008 New Media Study, the fastest-growing new medium is the social-networking site. Fifty-four percent of adults visited a social-networking site within the 30-day study period, an increase of 270 percent from the year-ago period.
Justin Gasman, a F&I director in Boulder, Colo., created a Facebook account for his dealership six months ago in an effort to build brand recognition. He said Facebook offers an easy and inexpensive way to advertise, although it requires some administrative effort on his part. “I’m sort of a one-man band,” said Gasman, who posts pictures, videos and dealership-related information to his dealership’s Facebook page, and monitors e-mails and friend requests.
“I figure there’s no harm in building up that friend — or customer base — on Facebook,” said Gasman. “The worst thing that’s happening is your name is getting in front of hundreds of people everyday.” His efforts have paid off, as the dealership’s Facebook page now counts more than 500 friends.
“The investment is time,” he explained. “I equate Facebook with putting money in a 401(K) or IRA. You don’t really know where it’s going to go or how it’s going to turn out, but everybody in business is getting connected with social-networking sites. That seems to be the trend.”
Technology Providers Adjust to New Media
The shift in consumer media consumption is also affecting the way technology providers develop products for dealerships. New Web-based products such as microsites and mobile marketing tools are slowly making their way into dealerships, changing the way dealers market their inventory and interact with consumers.
“There’s a clear recognition that dealers need more sophisticated tools,” said Brian Pasch, CEO and founder of Pasch Consulting Group, a New Jersey-based marketing firm. “How do you differentiate yourself? You have to have new tools.” Pasch’s firm specializes in creating microsites, a Web-based marketing tool for dealerships to promote their inventory, F&I products and other services. Microsites are different from a dealership’s primary Web page because their content is optimized to achieve multiple page views and reach the top of a search engine’s rankings. A few months ago, Pasch created a successful “Cash for Clunkers” microsite for a Massachusetts dealer, which received 60,000 to 70,000 page views and became the No. 1 search result on Google.
In addition to generating page views, the purpose of microsites is to educate consumers about a dealership’s vehicles, products and services. The hope is that these sites will drive customers in to the store. “In recent months, there has been more interest from dealers who are looking to add profits to their fixed-ops,” Pasch said.
Mobile marketing technology is another Web-based tool that uses the versatility and convenience of smart phones. Several product providers, including Web2Carz.com, Cobalt, Dominion Dealer Solutions, and Gambit Mobile, have created mobile applications that present a dealership’s inventory to consumers and allow them to contact a dealer via e-mail or phone.
Web2Carz.com, an Illinois-based online car shopping site, has a mobile marketing program featuring one million new and used cars from more than 10,000 dealers. Each listing shows a vehicle’s price, image, description and a Carfax report if available.
“We have a philosophy that we’re in the business of getting eyeballs to a dealership’s inventory,” said Alex Bravy, co-founder and vice president of business development for web2carz.com. While his company’s program targets tech-savvy consumers, he admits that Web-based technology is changing quickly and transforming the car-shopping process.
Texas dealer Grubbs is seeing that transformation firsthand with his mobile marketing tool, called Cobalt Mobile. On average, it delivers about 700 leads per month. He isn’t able to track how many of those leads have resulted in actual sales, but said consumers have contacted the dealership. “They’re definitely hitting the link to call (the dealership) from the mobile site, and I’m also getting a lot of hits to the map,” he said.
Grubbs believes that using these tools helps him build credibility and trust with customers. It also gives him a leg-up on his competition. “Well, just like any kind of advertising, you have to invest ahead of time to see the return,” he said. “We have to embrace it and we have to try to be ahead of the game.”
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The long-awaited Countdown Alexandra opens its doors today.
Located on a 0.8ha site bordering Centennial Ave and Ventry St, the 3000sq m building is part of a ‘‘significant investment’’ by the company in the region, a spokeswoman said.
It is the third store Countdown has opened in Otago in the past year, after Balclutha and the Wanaka Metro.
The store has the latest technology and conveniences found in city supermarkets — scan and go, digital price tags and EV chargers — but with a local feel, Countdown Alexandra store manager Steve Payne said.
Local produce was used where possible, but the store also had the advantage of tapping into the supermarket’s wider supply network, he said.
He believed Alexandra and the wider region would be able to support another large supermarket in the area.
‘‘The community has been asking for competition so we’ve heard a lot of good feedback.
‘‘We’re really, really proud of what we’ve done here together.’’
The build used trades from throughout the region, and more than 50 local people were employed to work in the supermarket, he said.
The store would operate seven days a week, from 7am-9pm.
Mr Payne and his wife, Jody, relocated from Auckland in August, bringing more than 25 years’ experience in the industry.
The opportunity to live in an area with lakes and mountains appealed, and he was quickly settling into Central Otago life, he said.
‘‘It’s lovely being part of this community.’’


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Facebook hackers target small business owners to scam money for ads
From there, they also took control of the account she uses to run her small business, wiping out 90 percent of the client base she has been building up for the past four years - almost in an instant.
Their target? The PayPal account she uses to buy Facebook ads for her business.
Ms McTaggart is among many small business owners who say they have had their Facebook pages hacked and fraudulent charges made on their PayPal or bank accounts as the scammers buy up ads with their money.
It was last Thursday evening when Ms McTaggart first noticed something was happening with her Facebook account.
"I was just watching TV and I opened up Facebook. I saw I had received and accepted a friend request from some guy in …
More on: www.9news.com.au


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Webomaze’s SEO Expertise Boosts Digital Growth for Australian Construction Companies
Sydney, Australia – 26/02/2024 – (SeaPRwire) – Demonstrating the effectiveness of strategic digital marketing, Webomaze’s application of SEO expertise has enhanced the digital presence of several Australian construction companies. A notable example includes a Melbourne-based firm that experienced a 357% increase in organic traffic within four months thanks to targeted SEO strategies.
Through tailored SEO techniques, Webomaze has facilitated remarkable growth for construction firms in Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. This is characterized by increased online visibility and client engagement, marking substantial progress for these companies within the competitive landscape of Australia’s construction industry.
In Melbourne, a construction company previously overshadowed by larger entities achieved significant digital visibility, with a 357% increase in organic traffic. Such a surge in online presence has led to a significant uptick in client engagement and inquiries.
A Brisbane-based company also saw substantial improvement in its online footprint. With Webomaze’s support, the company moved from obscurity to prominence on Google search results, leading to a 40% increase in online traffic over five months. This directly translated into more consultation bookings and contract opportunities.
Webomaze’s success stems from its ability to tailor SEO strategies to the specific needs of the construction industry. The company’s approach includes detailed keyword research, competitive analysis, and content optimization, all designed to enhance the online presence of medium-sized construction businesses.
The achievements of these construction companies underscore the strategic insight and expertise of Ravi Sharma and Vinika Garg, the duo behind Webomaze. Their work has supported the growth of construction businesses and leveled the playing field, allowing smaller companies to compete more effectively with larger firms.
This move towards thoughtful digital marketing, particularly in local SEO, proves how construction SMBs in Australia are positioning themselves for success.
A New Chapter for Construction SMBs
As more construction companies realize the benefits of SEO, the industry is transforming. This raises an important consideration: Is this the beginning of a new phase where construction SMBs leverage digital strategies for growth and competitiveness?
Webomaze’s impact on the industry clearly indicates the power of effective SEO strategies in elevating businesses to new heights.
Webomaze Pty Ltd, led by Ravi Sharma and Vinika Garg, has made a significant impact in the SEO industry with its mathematical approach to SEO. Since its inception in 2015 and its establishment in Australia in 2020, Webomaze has become recognized for its effectiveness in enhancing online visibility for over 1,000 businesses, supported by positive reviews across major platforms. The company’s dedication to SEO specialization allows it to deliver focused and measurable growth for its clients, positioning Webomaze as a notable player in the digital marketing field.
Name: Ravi Sharma
The article is provided by a third-party content provider. SeaPRwire ( https://www.seaprwire.com/ ) makes no warranties or representations in connection therewith.
Sectors: Top Story, Corporate News
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The FTSE 100 closed up 0.61% on Wednesday, with Omicron coronavirus variant and stimulus concerns held off for now and equities seeing out the end of the year with a cautiously optimistic tone. The U.K. Office for National Statistics revised GDP growth down this morning to 1.1% from 1.3% for the third quarter on the back of weaker performances from the health, and hair and beauty sectors, and a larger contraction in the energy sector than previously expected, Spreadex junior sales trader Oliver Males says. Even the lower figure outshines data from the year prior, and points to the U.K. economy's gradual recovery to pre-pandemic levels, Mr. Males adds.
Syncona Shares Rise After Novartis Agrees to Buy Portfolio Company
Syncona Ltd. shares rose Wednesday after it said Novartis AG has agreed to acquire its portfolio company Gyroscope Therapeutics Holdings PLC for up to $1.5 billion.
U.K. Watchdog Says Taylor Wimpey Agreed to Remove Terms for Doubling Ground Rent Clauses
The Competition and Markets Authority said Wednesday that home builder Taylor Wimpey PLC is removing doubling ground rent terms from leasehold contracts after receiving enforcement action in September 2020.
Pennon Says U.K. Competition Regulator to Pursue Phase 2 Review on Deal for Bristol Water
Pennon Group PLC said Wednesday that the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority has confirmed its intention to pursue a Phase 2 merger review regarding the company's acquisition of Bristol Water Holdings UK Ltd.
Land Securities Buys Additional 25% Stake in Bluewater Shopping Mall for GBP172M
Land Securities Group PLC said Wednesday it has acquired an additional 25% stake in shopping mall Bluewater for 172 million pounds ($228.2 million).
Parsley Box's Shares Fall on Outlook Warning Over Omicron Variant
Shares in Parsley Box Group PLC on Wednesday fell after the company warned about its ability to continue managing customer-service levels due to the effects of the Omicron variant despite also saying that it expects to post growth in its full-year results.
Anglo American Says De Beers Rough Diamond Sales for 10th Cycle Were $332 Mln
Anglo American PLC said Wednesday that rough diamond sales for De Beers's 10th sales cycle of 2021 were $332 million.
Croda International to Sell Majority of Performance Technologies and Industrial Chemicals for EUR915 Mln
Croda International PLC said Wednesday that it has signed a definitive agreement with Cargill Velocity Holdings Ltd. to sell the majority of its Performance Technologies and Industrial Chemicals businesses for an enterprise value of 915 million euros ($1.03 billion).
Good Energy Shares Fall After a Further GBP3 Mln Hit to FY 2021 Is Expected
Shares in Good Energy Group PLC fell Wednesday after the company said it expects a further 3 million-pound ($4.0 million) hit to its fiscal 2021 results due to unfavorable weather conditions.
K3 Business Technology 2H Performance in Line With Expectations
K3 Business Technology Group PLC said Wednesday that its performance for the second half of fiscal 2021 has been in line with management expectations, boosted by a strong fashion and apparel business.
Camellia Sees 2021 Underlying Pretax Profit Above Market Views
Camellia PLC said Wednesday that it expects underlying pretax profit for 2021 to be substantially above market expectations due to improved margins for a number of its agricultural businesses and rigorous cost-saving measures.
Avacta Group Gets CE Mark for Covid-19 Antigen Test; Shares Rise
Shares in Avacta Group PLC rose Wednesday after the company said its Covid-19 antigen lateral flow test has received a CE mark for use as a consumer self-test in the U.K. and the European Union.
Scotgold Resources FY 2021 Pretax Loss Widened; Ramps Up Production
Scotgold Resources Ltd. said Wednesday its pretax loss for fiscal 2021 doubled, as the company ramps up production at its Cononish gold and silver mine in Scotland.
Tungsten Corp. Shares Fall as Accel-KKR Exits Takeover Talks
Shares in Tungsten Corp. fell Wednesday after the company said Accel-KKR has confirmed it won't make an offer for the company and that discussions between both parties have now terminated.
D4t4 Contract Wins Offer an Early Christmas Gift
1144 GMT - D4t4's new contract wins support revenue forecasts for FY 2022 and should boost annual recurring revenue by 30%, finnCap says. "This is a welcome early Christmas gift for investors," the U.K. brokerage says, adding that a first sale for D4t4's new Fraud Data Platform is likely to be the "first of many." FinnCap reiterates its 450 pence target price on the AIM-listed data company, expecting more annual recurring revenue contracts before the year end. Shares trade 11.4% higher at 317.5 pence. (email@example.com)
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